SAU Police Department expands thanks to COPS Hiring Program grant
Magnolia, AR (01/09/2024) — The Southern Arkansas University System Police Department will hire two additional positions to their staff in 2024. The expansion was made possible by a $250,000 grant from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). SAU was one of eight police departments in the state of Arkansas to receive funding to hire more officers under the COPS Hiring Program.
According to the UA Little Rock Public Radio website, the U.S. Department of Justice has approved $334 million in funding for officer hiring, school safety and mental health services across the state.
As the SAU Police Department continues to expand, the grant has arrived at the perfect time.
Since his university days, Assistant Chief of Police Bryan Christenson knew he wanted to work in a college setting. He served with the Arkansas State Police Department for six years before his hire at SAU in 2019. "I love working on a college campus," Christenson said. "Among the athletic events, music and theater arts programs, and student activities, each day brings a different energy to the campus."
Additionally, SAU officers have unique opportunities for overtime, on-campus housing, family access to sporting events, excellent employer retirement contributions, and tuition waivers for employee, spouse and children.
Christenson added, "Rarely do you work at a place where the entire staff has bought into the mission." All of these benefits make the SAU Police Department a competitive and special place to serve.
For more information on these openings, please visit www.saumag.edu.
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